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March 29, 2019 by Jeff Jones
So churches need to try and test the character and maturity of their deacon nominees prior to their appointment by the elders, a process that requires time and familiarity. That’s the deacon’s examination....
March 22, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Biblical deacons, then, are to be examined by the assembly. That’s at the heart of the deacon’s nomination for office....
March 15, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Deacons, again, are to guard the unity of the church and the ministry of the elders from the demands of practical problems. Appreciating such problems requires the careful definition of each deacon’s role....
March 8, 2019 by Jeff Jones
There is only one qualification Paul mentions to Timothy that is not found in Acts 6, and it is that qualification we now turn to examine: the deacon’s purity....
February 28, 2019 by Jeff Jones
This combination of a practical, nuts-and-bolts focus and a separation from doctrinal and pastoral oversight ministry might tempt a church to overlook the piety and conviction of a candidate. That would be a grave mistake....
February 22, 2019 by Jeff Jones
The very fact that this responsibility requires dedicated attention should tell us that it may not come easily, and that not just anyone will be able to fulfill it. It’s no surprise, then, that the third qualification emphasized by the apostles in Acts 6 is wisdom......
February 15, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Having seen last week that the first qualification of a potential deacon is a solid reputation, we now turn to look at the second qualification found in Acts chapter 6: being “full of the Spirit.” Of all the qualifications, this one is perhaps most at risk of being misunderstood in the present day. What does “filled with the Spirit” mean?...
February 8, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Now that we’ve looked at the intent, mission, and objective of the New Testament deacon, it’s time to look at what kind of Christians fill this office. What are the qualifications of those called to be deacons?...
February 1, 2019 by Jeff Jones
We see in Acts 6 that even in the earliest church the temptation to be distracted from this ministry is strong. The apostles put it in blunt terms: “it is not right that we should give up the preaching of the Word of God to serve tables.”...
July 6, 2018 by Jeff Jones | Tags: Genealogy, twenty-first-century life
The age of the Bible has practical implications for how we read it. Its books were written using literary rules and conventions that were different, thousands of years ago, than they are today. When we encounter biblical difficulties, one of the very first things we need to ask is whether the sheer distance in time and culture between ourselves and the biblical writer is c...
Keep ReadingJuly 6, 2018 by Jeff Jones | Tags: genealogies, bible, History, Application, Inerrancy
What difference can biblical genealogies possibly make in my life? Why do they matter? Here are a few reasons why they are, far from being dusty and irrelevant relics, actually divinely ordained means of encouragement and growth....
Keep ReadingJuly 6, 2018 by Clint Humfrey | Tags: Faith, Grace, Saved, Christ Alone
Our religious observances do not save us. Christ saves us. He alone is our salvation. It is not a combination of our faith and our religious observances, as the Roman Catholic Church teaches. Rather, Christ alone saves and all our guilty sin has been born by Christ on the cross, while his resurrection seals the forgiveness of our guilt forever....
Keep ReadingJuly 6, 2018 by Clint Humfrey | Tags: Prayer, ask, Discern, Word of God, Will of God
As life goes on we are repeatedly faced with choices. And as we are confronted with choices we can be tempted in various ways. We can seek to escape them. Or we can make our choice based on our own worldly wisdom. Or we can rashly make a choice without even thinking. By contrast, we ought to learn to pray, discern and decide....
Keep ReadingJuly 6, 2018 by Clint Humfrey | Tags: Suffering, Faith, Gift, Christ
Their passport is a two-part gift. First, the Scripture says that believing in him is something granted. Second, is the other part of the gift that must be included. It has been granted to you, not only to be believe, but to suffer for his sake. ...
Keep ReadingJuly 6, 2018 by Gavin Peacock | Tags: Rejoice, Suffering, gratefulness, Prayer
Christians have God astheir Protector, Provider and Saviour through Jesus Christ. We ought to be joyful....
Keep ReadingJune 18, 2018 by Gavin Peacock | Tags: Patience, Pride, unbelief, Trusting God, Providences
So how do you fight for patience? By trusting God according to his Word: all that he is for you, all that he’s done for you and all that he will do for you....
Keep ReadingJune 10, 2018 by Gavin Peacock | Tags: kindness, Spirit, identity, other-centered, tenderhearted
June 4, 2018 by Gavin Peacock | Tags: Believe, Fruit of the Spirit, self-control, God's might, Obey from the heart
We need to control the self, because the self produces desires in us that if not put to death will kill us and damage others....
Keep ReadingApril 2, 2018 by Jeff Jones | Tags: Unity, Sanctification, New City Catechism, Catechesis, Scripture Memory
Our hope at Calvary Grace Church is that we, as a congregation, would be growing in the knowledge and understanding of our faith through catechesis and growing in our holiness through Scripture memory. Here's how we plan to get there!...
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